Vanderbilt AD addresses concerns over student athletes

The investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving four Vanderbilt football players continues, and evidence has been submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.More >>

The investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving four Vanderbilt football players continues, and evidence has been submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.More >>

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -

Vanderbilt University Athletics Director David Williams is speaking publicly for the first time since news of a sex crimes investigation surfaced on campus.

Williams, a vice chancellor at the private university, said the letter he sent last week to Commodores student athletes advising them to no longer visit Nashville bar Tin Roof had nothing to do with the investigation by Metro police into four former football players' possible involvement in an alleged crime.

"Since there were student athletes that were going to the Tin Roof, we were concerned there may be a NCAA compliance issue or one brewing," Williams told the Channel 4 I-Team.

The letter, dated July 17, reads, "Effective immediately, the athletics department has declared the Nashville bar Tin Roof off limits," and Williams went on to write the university was informed of concerning behaviors at the bar, including underage drinking and students using fake IDs.

"Since we really didn't have any mechanisms to get down to the bottom of it in a short period of time, we took the position of putting the Tin Roof off limits until we can determine what's actually going on," Williams said.

The athletic director also said the letter was not just about one Vanderbilt team in particular. Rather, he says officials have received what the school considers reliable information about different athletes drinking at the bar.

The Tin Roof owner said last week he had read the letter sent out by the athletic director and said he's not aware of any ongoing underage drinking issues going on at his bar, adding they are doing everything they can to make sure it doesn't happen there.

When asked about the ban at Tin Roof, Williams said that's the only bar for which they received that information and said this isn't the first time the university has put a place off limits for students.

The university said Cory Batey, Brandon Banks, Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie and Brandon Vandenberg are no longer on the football team and have also been banned from campus. The four are at the center of a Metro sex crimes investigation after an alleged sexual assault inside a campus dorm last month.

The university named the players last week ahead of SEC Media Days, saying they were dropped from the 2013 roster for "violation of team rules."

None has been charged with a crime.

"It's an investigation and I'm not allowed to comment on it," Williams said.

No major changes are expected with the forecast for the next few days. And that means the heat and humidity will remain in place along with a slight chance of rain. A cold front will arrive later this week and should bring a slight drop in humidity just in time for the weekend. Temperatures will be warm and humid overnight into Wednesday morning with lows ranging from the mid 60s north of I-10 to the mid 70s at the coast.

No major changes are expected with the forecast for the next few days. And that means the heat and humidity will remain in place along with a slight chance of rain. A cold front will arrive later this week and should bring a slight drop in humidity just in time for the weekend. Temperatures will be warm and humid overnight into Wednesday morning with lows ranging from the mid 60s north of I-10 to the mid 70s at the coast.

The defense has rested in Stacy Johnson's first-degree murder trial. Johnson is accused of murdering Robert Colston Sr. Johnson was 16 at the time the 79-year-old Colston died. When court resumes at 1 p.m., the court is expected to discuss with the defendant whether he understands his right to testify. KPLC's Theresa Schmidt is in the courtroom. Follow her HERE. A juvenile relative of Stacy Johnson took the stand today as the defense put on its case. The witness dispute...More >>

The defense has rested in Stacy Johnson's first-degree murder trial. Johnson is accused of murdering Robert Colston Sr. Johnson was 16 at the time the 79-year-old Colston died. When court resumes at 1 p.m., the court is expected to discuss with the defendant whether he understands his right to testify. KPLC's Theresa Schmidt is in the courtroom. Follow her HERE. A juvenile relative of Stacy Johnson took the stand today as the defense put on its case. The witness dispute...More >>

A Vinton couple is under arrest after a malnourished child brought to a hospital was found to have a lacerated kidney and several sores, bruises and rashes, authorities said. Detectives found the home in which the 5-year-old girl lived to be unkempt, with animal urine and feces throughout the residence, said Cmdr. James McGee, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman. Three other children were living in the home - a 9-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 3-year-old. The ch...More >>

A Vinton couple is under arrest after a malnourished child brought to a hospital was found to have a lacerated kidney and several sores, bruises and rashes, authorities said. Detectives found the home in which the 5-year-old girl lived to be unkempt, with animal urine and feces throughout the residence, said Cmdr. James McGee, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman. Three other children were living in the home - a 9-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 3-year-old. The ch...More >>

A gas station casino north of Moss Bluff was robbed at gunpoint late Sunday night. Authorities say that a man entered Buddy's Casino, at 6191 U.S. 171 North, with a handgun around 11:40 p.m. Sunday. The man forced an employee into a back room and demanded money, said Cmdr. James McGee, with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. After stealing money, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage leaving the casino on foot, headed toward 171. The suspect is described as approximate...More >>

A gas station casino north of Moss Bluff was robbed at gunpoint late Sunday night. Authorities say that a man entered Buddy's Casino, at 6191 U.S. 171 North, with a handgun around 11:40 p.m. Sunday. The man forced an employee into a back room and demanded money, said Cmdr. James McGee, with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. After stealing money, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage leaving the casino on foot, headed toward 171. The suspect is described as approximate...More >>